US8577242B2 - Image forming apparatus with fuser unit - Google Patents

Image forming apparatus with fuser unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US8577242B2
US8577242B2 US13/030,279 US201113030279A US8577242B2 US 8577242 B2 US8577242 B2 US 8577242B2 US 201113030279 A US201113030279 A US 201113030279A US 8577242 B2 US8577242 B2 US 8577242B2
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Prior art keywords
unit
power
scanning mode
image forming
forming apparatus
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Expired - Fee Related, expires
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US13/030,279
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US20110206404A1 (en
Inventor
Norio Muraishi
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD. reassignment RICOH COMPANY, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MURAISHI, NORIO
Publication of US20110206404A1 publication Critical patent/US20110206404A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/22—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20
    • G03G15/23—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 specially adapted for copying both sides of an original or for copying on both sides of a recording or image-receiving material
    • G03G15/231—Arrangements for copying on both sides of a recording or image-receiving material
    • G03G15/232—Arrangements for copying on both sides of a recording or image-receiving material using a single reusable electrographic recording member
    • G03G15/234—Arrangements for copying on both sides of a recording or image-receiving material using a single reusable electrographic recording member by inverting and refeeding the image receiving material with an image on one face to the recording member to transfer a second image on its second face, e.g. by using a duplex tray; Details of duplex trays or inverters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
    • G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
    • G03G15/2039—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat with means for controlling the fixing temperature
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5004—Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
    • H04N23/65—Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
    • H04N23/651—Control of camera operation in relation to power supply for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
    • H04N23/667—Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
    • H04N25/70—SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
    • H04N25/709—Circuitry for control of the power supply
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00556—Control of copy medium feeding
    • G03G2215/00586—Control of copy medium feeding duplex mode

Definitions

  • the disclosures herein relate to an image forming apparatus.
  • Image forming apparatuses provided with an ADF (i.e., auto document feeder) and/or a CIS (i.e., contact image sensor) have been used in recent years.
  • a CIS is provided in a scanner unit, and is capable of scanning both sides of a document sheet generally at the same time.
  • An image forming apparatus equipped with a CIS tends to consume more electric power than an image forming apparatus that scans both sides of a document sheet by reversing the sheet. This is because the CIS includes a plurality of image sensors.
  • image forming apparatuses have been configured such that various optional units such as a paper feed tray or a finisher may be utilized. There is thus concern about an increase in power consumption due to the use of various optional units.
  • Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-111909 discloses an image forming apparatus that achieves power saving by suspending power supply to a CIS depending on the scan mode.
  • An image forming apparatus includes a fuser unit.
  • the fuser unit applies pressure or both heat and pressure to toner transferred onto a sheet, thereby causing the toner to be fused to the sheet.
  • the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above-noted patent publication adjusts power supply to the CIS depending on the image quality mode which is specified for a scanned image (hereinafter referred to as a “scanned-image quality mode”). Specifically, a large amount of electric power is supplied to the CIS upon determining that the scanned-image quality mode is set to a high quality mode. This is because an increased number of image sensors need to be used in the CIS in such a case. Conversely, a small amount of electric power is supplied to the CIS upon determining that the scanned-image quality mode is set to a low quality mode. This is because a decreased number of image sensors may be used in the CIS in such a case.
  • the amount of power supply to the fuser unit may be decreased when an increased number of optional units are used because these optional units consume electric power. Reduction in power supply to the fuser unit may cause a drop in the speed of image formation.
  • an image forming apparatus that can prevent, to a maximum extent, reduction in power supply to the fuser unit even when a number of optional units used with the image forming apparatus is increased, thereby preventing a drop in the speed of image formation.
  • an image forming apparatus includes a fuser unit configured to make an image fused to a recording medium, a selecting unit configured to select a duplex scanning mode by which both sides of a document sheet are scanned or a single-side scanning mode by which one side of a document sheet is scanned, a check unit configured to determine which one of the duplex scanning mode and the single-side scanning mode is selected, a duplex scanning unit configured to perform a scan when both sides of a document sheet are scanned upon the duplex scanning mode being selected, a setting unit configured to determine power supplied to the fuser unit upon determining, by the check unit, that the single-side scanning mode is selected, and a supply unit configured to supply the determined power to the fuser unit, wherein the determined power is equal to a sum of power consumed by the duplex scanning unit and power that is consumed by the fuser unit upon the duplex scanning mode being selected.
  • an image forming apparatus can prevent, to a maximum extent, reduction in power supply to the fuser unit even when a number of optional units used with the image forming apparatus is increased, thereby preventing a drop in the speed of image formation.
  • FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the entirety of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the electric circuitry of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a CPU used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure that is performed before the image forming apparatus enters a standby mode.
  • FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an example of a table that lists electric powers consumed by various optional units used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming process according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure performed at the completion of an image forming process according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an example of a table that lists powers supplied to a fuser unit and respective copy speeds.
  • An image forming apparatus may be a printer, a facsimile apparatus, a copier apparatus, a plotter, any combination of these, or the like.
  • a recording medium may be paper, thread, fiber, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, or the like, for example.
  • Image formation may refer to attaching an image such as a letter, a figure, or a pattern to a recording medium, and may also refer to spurting droplets (i.e., ink droplets) to a recording medium.
  • spurting droplets i.e., ink droplets
  • an ADF refers to an auto document feeder.
  • a document sheet refers to a sheet that is set by a user in the ADF or the like for scanning by a single-side scanner unit or CIS. One or more images scanned from the document sheet are formed on and fused to a sheet. Elements having the same function in block diagrams or processes performing the same processing are referred to by the same reference numbers, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted.
  • FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to a present embodiment.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is equipped with an ADF 220 and a CIS 225 .
  • the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 mainly includes the ADF 220 , an operation board 130 , a scanner 200 , and a printer 250 .
  • the scanner 200 serves as a single-side scanning unit.
  • the duplex scanning unit serves to scan both sides of a document sheet whereas the single-side scanning unit scans one side of a document sheet.
  • a user turns on a main-power AC switch 101 to supply electric power to each part of the image forming apparatus 100 , thereby activating the image forming apparatus 100 .
  • a paper feed tray 102 contains paper sheets provided by the user. The paper sheets in the paper feed tray 102 are supplied to a core part of the image forming apparatus 100 at the time of printing for the purpose of image formation. Upon installing the paper feed tray 102 , which is an optional unit, electric power needs to be supplied to the paper feed tray 102 .
  • the printer 250 includes a plurality of photoconductive drums 2502 (four drums in the example illustrated in FIG. 1 ) and an intermediate transfer belt 2504 .
  • the printer 250 transfers a toner image onto a paper sheet supplied from the paper feed tray 102 .
  • the paper sheet is then supplied to the fuser unit 4 .
  • the fuser unit 4 utilizes pressure and/or heat to fuse the toner image transferred onto the paper sheet, thereby turning the toner image into a permanent image.
  • the paper sheet having the toner image fused thereon by the fuser unit 4 is discharged by a discharge unit.
  • a user may wish to perform booklet printing.
  • the user operates the operation board 130 to enter an instruction indicative of booklet printing.
  • discharged paper sheets are stapled together by a finisher (not shown).
  • a finisher (not shown).
  • electric power needs to be supplied to the finisher.
  • the ADF 220 serves to feed a document sheet automatically upon a plurality of document sheets being set thereon.
  • the CIS 225 is comprised of a plurality of image sensors.
  • the CIS 225 scans both sides of the document sheet substantially in a simultaneous manner.
  • the scanner 200 serves as a single-side scanning unit.
  • a user uses the selecting unit 132 of the operation board 130 to select whether a document sheet to be copied is a single-sided document or double-sided document.
  • the CIS 225 scans both sides of the document.
  • the single-side scanning unit 200 scans one side of the document.
  • the scanner 200 includes a control board having power device drivers, sensor inputs, and a controller. Through communication with an engine controller, the scanner 200 is controlled to scan an image on the front side of a document sheet.
  • the ADF 220 also includes a control board having power device drivers, sensor inputs, a CIS for scanning the back side of a document sheet, and a controller. Through communication with the engine controller, the scanner 200 is controlled to scan an image on the back side of the document sheet.
  • the scanner 200 and the ADF 220 inclusive of the CIS 225 are utilized to scan both the front side and back side of a document sheet by feeding the document sheet only once.
  • FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a power circuitry configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 .
  • the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an AC power supply 1 , a DC power supply 2 , a supply unit 3 , the fuser unit 4 , the ADF 220 , a first optional unit 11 , and a second optional unit 12 .
  • the ADF 220 includes DCDC converters 221 and 222 , an ADF motor 224 , a switch unit 223 , the CIS 225 , a CPU 226 , and a sensor 227 embedded in the ADF 220 .
  • the DC power supply 2 converts AC power supplied from the AC power supply 1 into DC power, which is supplied to relevant parts.
  • the first optional unit 11 and the second optional unit 12 may be the DC power supply 2 (see FIG. 1 ) and the finisher (not shown), respectively, for example.
  • Optional units are not limited to these examples.
  • the first optional unit 11 and the second optional unit 12 are illustrated as separate units, but may instead be illustrated as a single unit.
  • all the optional units provided for the image forming apparatus will be collectively referred to as an optional configuration.
  • the fuser unit 4 may be referred to as a primary load, and the optional configuration may be collectively referred to as a secondary load. It may be noted that the supply unit 3 serves to adjust the amount of electric power supplied to the fuser unit 4 .
  • the ADF motor 224 serves to drive the ADF 220 .
  • Other motors are also used in reality. In FIG. 2 , however, only the ADF motor 224 is illustrated for the sake of simplicity of illustration.
  • the ADF sensor 227 is used for the purpose of ensuring proper operations of the ADF 220 . For example, the ADF sensor 227 may check whether a document sheet is placed on the ADF 220 .
  • the DC powers output from the DC power supply 2 include 24-V power and 5-V power.
  • the 24-V DC power is supplied to the ADF motor 224 and the DCDC converters 221 and 222 .
  • the ADF motor 224 drives the ADF 220 .
  • the DCDC converter 221 generates 12-V DC power from the supplied 24-V DC power for provision to the CIS 225 via the switch unit 223 .
  • the switch unit 223 is turned on or turned off according to a control signal from the CPU 226 . Upon the switch unit 223 being turned on, the DC power output from the DCDC converter 221 is supplied to the CIS 225 . Conversely, upon the switch unit 222 being turned off, the DC power output from the DCDC converter 221 is not supplied to the CIS 225 .
  • the DCDC converter 222 generates 5-V DC power from the supplied 24-V DC power for provision to the CPU 226 and the ADF sensor 227 .
  • the CPU 226 and the ADF sensor 227 operate on the supplied 5-V DC power.
  • FIG. 3 is a drawing showing an example of the functional configuration of the CPU 226 according to the present embodiment.
  • the CPU 226 includes a check unit 2262 , an option-power calculating unit 2264 , a setting unit 2265 , an acquisition unit 2268 , and a memory unit 2266 . Details of operations of these units will be described later.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure that is performed to enter a standby mode.
  • a user turns on the main-power AC switch 101 (see FIG. 1 ) (step S 2 ).
  • the acquisition unit 2268 acquires option installment information (step S 4 ).
  • the option installment information indicates the optional configuration provided for the image forming apparatus 100 .
  • the optional configuration may be a finisher and a paper feed tray. In such a case, the option installment information indicates that the optional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 is comprised of the finisher and the paper feed tray.
  • the option-power calculating unit 2264 calculates option power based on the option installment information (step S 6 ).
  • the option power refers to the total power that is consumed by all the optional configuration.
  • the memory unit 2266 stores a correspondence table in which optional units are listed in one-to-one correspondence to consumed powers.
  • FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an example of the table.
  • a finisher consumes an electric power of ⁇ W
  • a paper feed tray consumes an electric power of ⁇ (W).
  • Consumed powers of the optional units indicated by the option installment information are obtained and all added to obtain the option power.
  • the optional configuration may be a finisher and a paper feed tray. In this case, the option power is equal to ⁇ + ⁇ .
  • the setting unit 2265 then obtains first electric power consumed by the fuser unit 4 (step S 8 ).
  • the first electric power is the power consumed by the fuser unit 4 when the CIS 225 is used.
  • One way to obtain the power is to use the following formula.
  • First ⁇ ⁇ Electric ⁇ ⁇ Power Power ⁇ ⁇ Supplied ⁇ ⁇ to ⁇ ⁇ Image ⁇ ⁇ Forming ⁇ ⁇ Apparatus - Option ⁇ ⁇ Power - Constant ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ ( 1 )
  • the option power is obtained by the option-power calculating unit 2264 as was previously described.
  • the constant ⁇ is the electric power consumed by parts other than the optional configuration, and may be the electric power used for image forming processes.
  • the constant ⁇ is determined in advance, and may be stored in the memory unit 2266 .
  • the constant ⁇ may be set to zero.
  • the obtained first electric power may be stored in the memory unit 2266 .
  • An initial adjustment process of the image forming apparatus 100 inclusive of a warming up of the fuser unit 4 is performed (step S 10 ). After the completion of the initial adjustment process, an entry into the standby mode is made to allow a user operation (step S 12 ).
  • a user uses the selecting unit 132 of the operation board 130 (see FIG. 1 ) to select a scan mode (step S 13 ).
  • the scan mode may be a duplex scanning mode by which both sides of a document sheet are scanned, or may be a single-side scanning mode by which one side of a document sheet is scanned.
  • a copy mode is also specified by selecting whether to make a high quality copy or a low quality copy, whether to make a monochrome copy or a color copy, etc. Information about the scan mode and the copy mode is sent to the CPU.
  • the copy start button may be provided on the operation board 130 .
  • the check unit 2262 of the CPU 226 checks which one of the duplex scanning mode and the single-side scanning mode is selected (step S 16 ).
  • the CIS 225 (see FIG. 1 ) is used to scan both sides of a document sheet.
  • the single-side scanning sensor 200 (see FIG. 1 ) is used to scan one side of a document sheet.
  • the duplex scanning sensor is the CIS 225 .
  • another means may be employed as the duplex scanning sensor.
  • the check unit 2262 determines that the single-side scanning mode is selected (i.e., the case in which the CIS 225 is not used, corresponding to No in step S 16 ).
  • the setting unit 2265 of the CPU 226 makes a setting (step S 18 ) such that a second electric power is supplied to the fuser unit 4 .
  • the second electric power is the power consumed by the fuser unit 4 when the CIS 225 is not used.
  • the second electric power is obtained by use of formula (2) as follows.
  • Second ⁇ ⁇ Electric ⁇ ⁇ Power First ⁇ ⁇ Electric ⁇ ⁇ Power + Electric ⁇ ⁇ Power ⁇ ⁇ Consumed ⁇ ⁇ by ⁇ ⁇ CIS ( 2 )
  • Formula (2) indicates that the second electric power is obtained by adding the electric power (i.e., first electric power) consumed by the fuser unit 4 in the case of the duplex scanning unit (i.e., CIS 225 ) being used and the electric power consumed by the duplex scanning unit (i.e., CIS 225 ).
  • electric power is not supplied to the CIS 225 when the CIS 225 is not used, so that the electric power that would be consumed by the CIS 225 in the case of the CIS 225 being used is provided to the fuser unit 4 .
  • the setting unit 2265 may calculate the above-noted formula (2) each time the printing process is performed in the case of the single-side scanning mode.
  • the second electric power calculated by the setting unit 2265 is stored in the memory unit 2266 (i.e., the setting is made).
  • the second electric power may be calculated in advance by the setting unit 2265 according to formula (2) and stored in the memory unit 2266 .
  • the setting unit 2265 does not calculate formula (2) each time the printing process is performed, and uses the second electric power already stored in the memory unit 2266 .
  • the second electric power set by the setting unit 2265 may be referred to as a set power.
  • the CIS 225 turns off the switch unit 223 to suspend the power supply to the CIS (step S 20 ).
  • the setting unit 2265 makes a setting (step S 22 ) such that the first electric power calculated in step S 8 of the flowchart of FIG. 4 as previously described is used.
  • the first electric power is the power consumed by the fuser unit 4 when the CIS 225 is used.
  • the CPU 226 supplies the set power to the fuser unit 4 (step S 24 ). If it is ascertained in step S 16 by the check unit 2262 that the duplex scanning mode is selected (i.e., Yes in step S 16 ), the first electric power is supplied to the fuser unit 4 . If it is ascertained in step S 16 by the check unit 2262 that the single-side scanning mode is selected (i.e., No in step S 16 ), the second electric power is supplied to the fuser unit 4 . Switching between the first electric power and the second electric power is controlled by the supply unit 3 under the control of the CPU 226 .
  • the image forming apparatus 100 Upon supplying the first electric power or second electric power to the fuser unit 4 , the image forming apparatus 100 performs an image forming process (step S 26 ).
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure performed at the completion of an image forming process.
  • the CPU 226 checks whether a document scanning process is completed (step S 32 ). Upon detecting an ongoing scanning process, the CPU 226 waits for the scanning process to come to an end (No in step S 32 ). Upon detecting the completion of the document scanning process by the CPU 226 (Yes in step S 32 ), the procedure proceeds to step S 34 .
  • the CPU 226 then checks whether the power supply to the CIS 225 is in a suspended state. The fact that the power supply to the CIS 225 is in a suspended state corresponds to the case in which the check unit 2262 has decided not to use the CIS 225 .
  • step S 34 the CPU 226 turns on the switch unit 223 to start power supply to the CIS 225 (step S 36 ). Namely, the supply unit 3 starts supplying electric power to the duplex scanning unit (i.e., CIS 225 ) after the completion of the image forming process that is performed without using the duplex scanning unit. With this arrangement, a delay of printing is avoided in a next printing process.
  • the duplex scanning unit i.e., CIS 225
  • a delay upon restarting power supply to the CIS 225 may be caused by a time to wait for the stabilization of power supply and/or a time to make settings for the use of the CIS 225 before starting scanning a document sheet.
  • the standby mode refers to a mode in which the image forming apparatus waits for an operation input to be entered by a user.
  • step S 34 In the case of the power supply to the CIS 225 being not in a suspended state (No in step S 34 ), i.e., in the case of the CIS 225 having been used (for the duplex scanning process), the power supply to the CIS 225 is in existence, and preparations for scanning are also in place. In this case, the procedure proceeds directly to step S 40 , without going through step S 36 and step S 38 .
  • step S 42 the CPU 226 checks whether a copy request from a user is present. In the case of a user copy request being present, a procedure for the commencement of a copy process (see FIG. 6 ) is performed.
  • step S 44 the CPU 226 checks whether a predetermined time period has passed.
  • the CPU 226 may use a timer for measuring the predetermined time period.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 waits until the predetermined time period passes (No in step S 44 ).
  • an entry into a power saving mode is made (step S 46 ).
  • the CIS 225 (i.e., duplex scanning unit) is not used when a single-side scanning mode is selected. In the case of the CIS 225 being not used, there is no need to supply electric power to the CIS 225 .
  • the supply unit 3 supplies the second electric power to the fuser unit 4 that is obtained by adding the first electric power and the electric power that would be consumed by the CIS 225 in the case of the CIS 225 being used.
  • the second electric power is larger than the first electric power.
  • the electric power supplied to the fuser unit differs depending on whether the scanning mode is the duplex scanning mode or the single-side scanning mode.
  • a copy speed of the duplex scanning mode and/or a copy speed of the single-side scanning mode (e.g., in units of CPM: copies per minute) is displayed.
  • a display unit of the image forming apparatus may be used for this purpose. Such a display unit may be situated on the operation board 130 (see FIG. 1 ).
  • Copy speed may be calculated based on the electric power supplied to the fuser unit 4 (i.e., the first electric power or the second electric power).
  • a predetermined formula or a correspondence table may be used.
  • FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an example of the correspondence table.
  • copy speed is V 1 when the power supply to the fuser unit 4 is the first electric power (i.e., X(W))
  • copy speed is V 2 when the power supply to the fuser unit 4 is the second electric power (i.e., Y(W)).
  • the CPU 226 may refer to this correspondence table to determine copy speed.
  • the predetermined formula or correspondence table may be obtained in advance based on experiments.
  • the display unit displays an image forming speed achieved in the case of a duplex scanning mode and/or an image forming speed achieved in the case of a single-side scanning mode. This allows a user to be aware of copy speeds.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Facsimiles In General (AREA)
  • Facsimile Scanning Arrangements (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
US13/030,279 2010-02-22 2011-02-18 Image forming apparatus with fuser unit Expired - Fee Related US8577242B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2010036299A JP2011170267A (ja) 2010-02-22 2010-02-22 画像形成装置
JP2010-036299 2010-02-22

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EP (1) EP2362272B1 (de)
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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9535379B2 (en) * 2013-08-07 2017-01-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus with warmup power control and connectable option device

Citations (20)

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